Saturday, April 27, 2013

The last couple of weeks have been crazy in our country, but
that should not be a total surprise because we live in crazy times. I know it
is an old cliché, but the only aspect of our society that is predictable is its
unpredictability.

Where do we begin? The obvious place is the terrorist attack
in Boston on
April 15. In only a matter of seconds, a simple sporting event was turned into
the most significant terrorist attack in our country since 9/11. Even if some
of our leaders refuse to say the words ‘War on Terror,’ this situation clearly
demonstrates the war continues.

However, there were other events that took place during this
time that were significant, but they got lost in the shuffle somewhat because
of the Boston
crimes.

For example, someone mailed letters laced with ricin to
President Obama, a Republican senator from Mississippi,
and a judge from Mississippi.
Under the right circumstances, exposure to ricin can be extremely harmful, but
the judge was the only one of the three to actually come in contact with one of
the envelopes.

As this incident shows, terrorist attacks are not just
limited to bombs. Tainted mail can cause a lot of trouble if handled in a
certain way.

On the local level, a threat forced the closing of a high
school in Nashville.
Because of a threat on social media, FatherRyanHigh
School decided to close its doors for a day and
cancel extracurricular activities. Though officials there were tight-lipped
about the exact nature of the threat, schools cannot be too careful when it
comes to these situations.

Perhaps the proximity of the threat to the anniversary of
the Columbine mass shootings factored into the closing of the school. The
shooting at that school back in the late 1990s seems to have taken school
threats to a whole new level, and it is another unfortunate sign of the times.

All this news is sad, but it is just the way it is. This is
the world we live in, and it is fractured and bleeding. The unfortunate aspect
of all this is that events like this will happen again.

If we are not too careful, we can get so afraid of these
events that it will impact how we live our lives.

However, we cannot do that. We cannot live our lives hiding
under our desks because events out of our control might happen. Though we do
not always realize it, we live under these circumstances every day.

In fact, we are put in situations that are out of our
control every day that could be very dangerous. I am sure everyone reading this
is a careful driver, but what about the other people on the road? We cannot
control whether that other person is paying attention or not. Despite this,
most of us do not think twice about the peril we face simply by driving.

The same principle should apply as we consider the events in
our country the last couple of weeks. A terrorist attack could happen anywhere
including here. After all, an event as large as Bonnaroo could be a juicy
target for some idiot looking to make a name for himself. The people in charge
of Bonnaroo will use state-of-the-art techniques to make sure the event is
safe, but if some nut wants to try something crazy, he will.

The bottom line is we have little control on whether mayhem
will enter our lives. We can plan all we want, but the whirlwind sometimes
comes our way. Proper planning is important, but we can only do so much.

Friday, April 19, 2013

The Office is in the final weeks of its nine-year run on NBC,
and there has been much discussion about whether the show can recapture its past
glory as it ends. Can it raise itself back to the high level of its prime
years?

To a certain degree, the answer to the question has been
‘yes.’ Though the show has meandered somewhat this season, shows in recent
weeks have been consistently funnier than most episodes of the last couple of
years.

In recent weeks, the show has been working to resolve
long-running storylines as it heads to its finale on May 16. As those
storylines continue to unfold, the show is reminding us just how funny it can
be.

The April 11 episode was probably the funniest episode since
Steve Carell left after the seventh season. The show was both funny and
dramatic as it dealt with different characters.

On the funny side, Stanley
(played by Leslie David Baker) stubbornly refused to go out on a sales call,
which forced Dwight (played by Rainn Wilson) to stoop to ridiculous levels to
get him to do his job.

How ridiculous? Dwight shot him with three bull
tranquilizers and dragged him down a flight of stairs to get him to the sales
call on time. With Stanley
still groggy, Dwight guided him through the sales meeting with fine laughs
provided.

On the dramatic side, the marital problems between Jim
(played by John Krasinski) and Pam (played by Jenna Fischer) continued to
unfold. While the end of this storyline is a tightly-guarded secret, it is hard
to imagine them not pulling it back together. Their romance and subsequent
marriage has been one of the most pleasing aspects of the show, and if their
marriage ends, the show will be on the receiving end of a lot of raspberries.

Also, the impact of the “documentary” that has been shot
about the Dunder Mifflin office continues to develop, and it is my gut feeling
it will be a major player in resolving the differences between Jim and Pam, as
well as other storylines.

The show’s resurgence has been a relief to long-time viewers.
When Carell left, he left a huge hole. Though the ensemble cast is one of its
strengths, he was clearly the glue that held it all together.

In its eighth season, the show struggled mightily after he
left plus Fischer missed several episodes while on maternity leave. New
characters like Robert California (played by James Spader) did not work, and
viewers could almost see the actors trying to pump water out of a sinking
lifeboat.

This is what has made this recent resurgence satisfying.
Instead of going out with a whimper like other long-running shows, a little bit
of fire is being breathed back into it.

During its prime, The Office was one of the finest
shows on television. While that may be faint praise given the current state of
network television, the show’s quality was high. Beginning late in its second
season through its fifth season, the show rarely delivered a clunker.

However, like most long-running shows, there are only so
many situations that characters can be put in and remain fresh. We have seen it
happen to shows like The Simpsons, M*A*S*H* and others.

It appears the five- or six-year mark is the most
appropriate life span for a television show. Shows like the old Dick
Van Dyke Show and Mary Tyler Moore show knew it was
best to get out while on top.

This is easier said than done. After all, with success comes
money, and it is not easy to say ‘no’ when executives start offering piles of
money to people.

When we do not choose words wisely, the problems in our
lives become much more intense. Seriously, who among us has never gotten into
trouble for words that carelessly tumbled out of our mouths? “Foot-in-mouth
disease” is a malady not for the weak of heart.

Culturally, it seems we have gotten much looser with the
words we say to each other. In politics, Democrats and Republicans often throw
terms at each other that make us cringe. In these situations, it is funny how
often the person speaking negatively winds up being the one looking bad.

All this political rhetoric would not be so destructive if
it did not impact other parts of our culture. We have a lot of negative
communication taking place. When we hear somebody speaking negatively on
television or the Internet, it becomes that much easier for us to do the same.

We certainly see this in entertainment. There is a lot of
emphasis on “reality” programs on television, and a staple of this type of
programming is conflict. Makers of these shows apparently believe verbal
jousting is a one-way ticket to good ratings, and many times, they are not
wrong. After all, they keep making these shows so somebody must be watching.

Despite this, choosing our words wisely is one way we can
make life go more smoothly for ourselves and the world in general.

This is an important concept. For example, The
Holy Bible has this to say about our speech in Colossians 4:5-6: “Be
wise in the way you act toward outsiders; make the most of every opportunity.
Let your conversation be always full of grace, seasoned with salt, so that you
may know how to answer everyone.”

As with everything in the Bible, context is important when
looking at just a couple of verses. This comment was directed at believers and
the approach they should take when talking to other believers and non-believers.
However, this has a universal application.

The words “seasoned with salt” is the phrase that especially
leaps out. One biblical commentary correctly summed up the importance of this phrase
when the writer stated: “This image carries with it several ideas, including
preservation and something that is necessary to life. Down through the
centuries salt has been used as a food-preserving agent because it destroys
what is harmful in the food. Likewise, our speech should preserve by destroying
harmful ideas with the truth, which we speak with love. Like salt, our speech
should also provide what is necessary to life.”

The interesting aspect of that comment is it does not say we
should not boldly stand up for what is right. The key point is we must commit
ourselves to delivering these words with a heart of love that keeps the
well-being of who we are talking to as a priority.

Too often in the arena of debate, the sole focus is on the
making of a point without care for the person we are taking to. When it comes
to swaying opinions, a popular technique can be the attacking of the person
instead of the content of what is being said. While the credibility of a
speaker is important, this approach is often used as a crutch to justify a “win
at all costs” approach to conversation.

Whether this debate takes place in the political arena or a
conversation between two people, the principle remains the same. We are all in
this together, and unless it is an extreme case, we better be willing to keep
the well-being of others in mind rather than just steamrolling them with our
ideas.

Monday, April 8, 2013

Long-time rock and roll singer Bob Seger has begun his 2013
tour and published reports indicate this could be the last time he hits the
road. Seger, who is in his 60s, hinted to Rolling Stone last year this could
be it when it comes to touring.

At this point, he is not scheduled to come close to this
area. The closest date is currently a visit to North Carolina later this month. However, since most of
the dates are located in the Midwest, it is
hoped he will take the tour nationally later in the year.

He has played Nashville
in the past. The only time I saw him in person was in the late ‘80s at the old
Municipal Auditorium. The joint really rocked that night, and it remains one of
the more memorable concerts I have seen.

Though Seger has long been an elder statesman of his
profession, his career is also an example of perseverance. Though it is easy to
forget, Seger spent the first 10 years of his career as a wandering performer
who could not quite get over the top.

The album that really broke him out was Live Bullet.In general, I am not a big fan of live albums, but this one really
cooks. Backed by the Silver Bullet Band, it was a multi-platinum release that took him
from regional journeyman to national star.

Friday, April 5, 2013

Spring began on March 20, and when that date was approaching,
I was waiting on it with breathless anticipation. I do not like winter, and
when it goes away, it is like being released from an odd form of prison. I feel
that way for a number of reasons, but I will not be sharing any of them in this
column.

When spring hits, it literally is a breath of fresh air most
years. Temperatures quickly moderate and we see lots of color sprouting around
us. Charcoal is replaced by blossoms.

With this in mind, I have been quite disappointed with how
this spring has begun. It did not begin with a bang last month because it was
cold and we even had a little bit of snow during the first few days. High
temperatures in the thirties were not what I was fantasizing about while I was
lingering in my winter cell.

However, this is not unusual. It is not realistic to expect
spring to begin with 80-degree temperatures and trips to the lake. In fact, I
can remember some March weather that ranks right up there with the most severe
winter weather we have experienced in this area.

For example, the Superstorm of 1993 dumped more than 10
inches of snow here and that took place in the middle of March. Technically, it
was still winter, but it was an example of how weather can march to the beat of
its own drum.

Now that we have segued into April, spring seems to be
climbing out of its funk, but I am not entirely satisfied. The average high temperature
for this point of the season is in the mid to upper 60s, and we seem to be
having problems hitting that with consistency.

I am looking for those glorious days where it is still cool
enough to wear a sweatshirt but warm enough to wear shorts. When looking around
me, I see some people have already reached that point. I am happy for them, but
I still have to wear a light jacket when walking out to the mailbox. Maybe my
delicate pink skin is getting too sensitive as I age.

Spring brings simple joys that often cannot be experienced
in winter. For example, I enjoy mowing my lawn. While some may scoff at that
being a simple pleasure, I like getting out there and pushing that little mower
around.

Of course, I do not have a very big yard, so maybe that is
part of why I enjoy it. It is not too big to become a nuisance.

However, the bigger point is the season allows us to get
outside more and rid ourselves of the claustrophobia that being in the house
can bring. ‘Claustrophobia’ is probably too dramatic of a word to use, but I do
not like being cooped up. A couple of walks around the block is about the best
tonic there is if a person has had a bad day. And it is tougher to do that in
the dead of winter.

Sure, there are plenty of places to exercise indoors, but it
is not the same as being engaged with nature. Spending a couple of hours just
walking around a place like Old Stone Fort is infinitely healthier than
mindless time on a treadmill.

Not that time on a treadmill is entirely bad. After all,
some exercise is better than no exercise, and if a treadmill is all a person
has, then he should go for it.

So, it is only a matter of days before spring completely
comes out of its shell. Let us hope it is sooner rather than later.

Monday, April 1, 2013

I have lived in Manchester
for most of my 48 years, and I have seen several things occur that I thought I never
would as a boy.

As a music lover, one of those things is the remarkable
array of musicians that have visited our community as part of the Bonnaroo
Music and Arts Festival. I know this event can polarize some of us because it
brings both good and bad elements of our culture to our town in a mighty way.

However, when it comes strictly to music, a tremendous list
of artists has come here. Of course, the definition of the word “tremendous”
can vary depending on who a person is talking to. For people of my generation,
identifying a tremendous artist might be a totally different process compared
to how somebody half my age might do the defining.

My definition of “tremendous” includes artists like Bob
Dylan, John Fogerty, and Bruce Springsteen who have all played at Bonnaroo.
Seriously, if anybody had told me when I was a teenager that Bob Dylan would
someday play three miles from my house, I would have told that person to seek
professional help.

The latest list of performers for Bonnaroo was recently
announced, and the first artist to catch my eye was Paul McCartney. A Beatle is
coming to CoffeeCounty? Chalk this up as something else
I thought I would never see.

Even if McCartney’s career had ended in 1970 when The Beatles
broke up, his status in modern popular music would have been secure. The
Beatles’ influence on music and our culture cannot be overstated. The band took
what Elvis Presley, Chuck Berry, Little Richard, Buddy Holly, and Fats Domino started
and took it to a whole different level.

The Beatles growth as artists over just an eight-year period
is startling. When “Love Me Do” was released in 1962, it was a quaint love song
most significant for its use of a harmonica as a lead instrument.

Compare that song to songs like “A Day In The Life” only
five years later, and the growth of the songwriting team of McCartney and John
Lennon was obvious.

Though McCartney and Lennon wrote less and less together as
The Beatles progressed, it is interesting how the perception of them as artists
got so rigid. Often, Lennon was designated as the genius with words while
McCartney was noted for his melodic flair.

This is not entirely true, and it does McCartney a
disservice because he could also come up with fine sets of lyrics. For example,
“Hey Jude” is a fine set of words, and the song is almost entirely McCartney’s.

In the final couple of years of The Beatles career,
McCartney got on a hot streak that would be a career for most musicians. Songs
like “Get Back,” “Let It Be,” and “The Long and Winding Road” all hit the top of the
charts and were his babies despite sharing songwriting credit with Lennon.
Sometimes the fog of time can dull memories and cause us to miss how much
quality product he produced in such a brief period.

Now, McCartney will be visiting Manchester, and he will have a rich catalogue
of songs to choose from when entertaining the crowd. Now that he is 70 years
old, it is fair to wonder just how many more times he will tour America.

Hopefully, he will visit many more times, and this June he
will being playing songs that he has not often brought to our area.A couple of years ago he played in Nashville, but that was a
very rare visit.